Celtic Diary Friday September 21: Griffiths Shows What He Can Do

We had to wait for it, nearly an hour and a half , as Celtic bumbled and stumbled along without inspiration, but when Leigh Griffiths came off the bench to head the winner, it was worth it.

Maybe now the manager will see that the strikers job is not to pass it to someone else, but to finish off the move. It was also noticable that the chance came from a floated long ball, as opposed to passing the ball side to side in the hope that a defender might move out of the way.

Filip Benkovic proved me wrong as well, I didn’t think he was worth having but after last night any money available should be spent on him. If he won’t stay, or Leicester won’t let him say, then kidnap him, or tell him that Brexit means he can’t stay in England, but Scotland has different rules.

We finally have a partnership in defence that works, though unless some nifty negotiating takes place, we won;t have it for long.

But as long as it secures eight in a row and a good European adventure, then I can live with it. Until I moan about it next summer.

Most of the moaning has been aimed at Mikael Lustig, who is part of a defence that has now gone five games without conceding, despite a few reshuffles. This Is Futbol gave us their opinion..

As any Hoops fan will point out, Lustig has been a weak link in the team for a long time. Aged 31, the Sweden international is not so much over the hill, as firmly rock bottom on the other side after crash-landing flat on his backside. The defender deserves great respect for his six years at Celtic, in which he has been a key member of the team and has hoovered up trophies for fun. But, in truth, the right-back has been off the boil not just this season, but the last one, too. He does not have the energy and mobility of his peak, and struggles in one-on-ones because of that. Celtic’s attacking impetus on the right flank is being negated because the likes of Forrest are having to cover for him and provide extra protection on the right flank. The problem is that there is no obvious successor to Lustig in the Celtic ranks. Brendan Rodgers has tried various combinations, including frequent use of a three-man defence and wing-backs. Once again, Celtic are looking back at missed opportunities in the summer window.

Looks like its going to be his turn for a few weeks.

Whereas Benkovic…

He was on target with 82 of his 86 passes on the night, which is good for a 95 per cent completion rate. He also won two tackles but one stat in particular is sure to catch the eye.

Benkovic recovered 10 balls on the night, which is a truly staggering number. To put that into context, skipper Scott Brown only managed one on the night and no one else in the Hoops team had more than four.

The manager was happy. Or relieved. Or even surprised..

“I am very happy, it was a great win in relation to spirit and persistence to go to the very end.

“It was against a Rosenborg team who had won nine and drawn two so they came with a real confidence.

“They surprised us a little bit for first 20 minutes, they played a diamond and they had never played that when we had analysed them but once we found the balance to play against that we started to come into the game.

“Without being at the top of the game, we kept going.

“I said to the players last week that we had to find a way to win, that’s why we are here and the players did that.

“So we will take the three points. I am really pleased.”

At some point he’ll realise that a raw Oddsone Edoaurd up front on his own doesn’t work, and he needs to either play him alongside Griffiths or not at all.

He’s starting to take on that stubborn streak that was in most of our previous managers, where they come up with an idea and stick to it, even though its obviously not working.

Sure, Celtic made a profit on Dembele, and he did score now and then, but lets remeber that Griffiths had just completed a forty goal season, a phenomenal return, and had every right to down tools.

He didn’t, and last night may have been him picking them up again, long term.

his reaction to his goal was to point to the badge and tell us he was number one. The perfect attitude.

He said after wards..

“There was a lot of frustration in the celebration. It’s a big weight off my mind.

“I’ve done it for years though. I don’t know why people keep doubting me and say I can’t score goals in the big occasion.

I’ve done it in the Champions League, the Europa League, the League Cup, the Scottish Cup and the league.

“There are still people doubting me and saying I can’t do this and that. But I keep shutting people up.

“It’s frustrating when people say ‘he can’t do this or that’.

“Ultimately, it’s about getting three points for the team and that’s what I’m good at. I want to be No1 striker here – no doubt about it.”

as i said yesterday, its either very good man management, or very bad…

Just a shame there was no one in the directors box to see it…

The police kept a low profile last night, by all accounts, but they will be implementing a new procedure next month..

Today is Friday, and of course that means

Knob of the Week

Probably the most convincing winner of all time…George Peat.

There’s little to say about this man that hasn’t already been said before, so a simple picture from the 1995 Cup final, during his Airdrie days should suffice, as it tells us all we want to know about the man…

The speed with which he took a job on the board at Stenhousemuir after Airdrie were sent donw by David Murray tells me his expression may not entirely be because Airdrie lost…

I thought I’d got in a time machine before game last night, side to side passing with no imagination or pace, it was as if Brendan had listened to Ronny’s advice after all. Subs were man for man, stubbornly sticking to a formation and plan that isn’t working and can’t see that eduard is not a CF and is better coming in from the left with Griffiths in the middle. The tactics are dated, look at the current to clubs and its 4 3 3 or 3-5-2 with a high press and fast counter, total possession football has been found out and unless you are incredible at it then most teams can block you off. One direct ball last night, one goal, I’m not looking for high balls constantly but we need to mix it up a bit more. Rant over hail, hail!

charlieSeptember 21, 2018 at 11:48 am ·

caption av heardy sam missiles in the sky but buat stickers in the skies a new wan oan me

Caption: an undercover investigation reveals that not only did David Murray have plans for a floating pitch at Ibrox, he also intended using it as a marina for his posh pals to park their boats on match days!

Noel SkytrotSeptember 21, 2018 at 12:51 pm ·

Caption…Ibrox hordes looking for David Murray’s sky boat out in Monaco.

All a bit turgid last night but it’s 3 points in the EL. Here’s hoping BR will play Griffiths and Edouard up front against the Ayrshire huns.

George LazenbhoySeptember 21, 2018 at 1:24 pm ·

Can’t figure if it’s clear skys ahead or easy sailing.

How do you post videos in comments? Just asking for a friend.

TicTocSeptember 21, 2018 at 1:28 pm ·

Alternative Caption:
What a comment from Brendan in today’s Diary:
“I am very happy, it was a great win in relation to spirit and persistence (Beats Resistance) to go to the very end (and show them orange bastards up for what they really are.)
Whit a Mhan, eh? 🙂
HH

Puggy67September 21, 2018 at 1:42 pm ·

Caption: Leigh Griffiths comes up with an answer to the men who believe the world is flat.

GringoSeptember 21, 2018 at 2:04 pm ·

The beach ball, the hat, the rabona, the 5th goal at Ibrox.

Lustig has earned respect. Enjoy the legend whilst he’s still here.

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 6:30 pm ·

Oh look who we have here…..it’s the Gringo from El paso…..

broxburnbhoySeptember 21, 2018 at 2:59 pm ·

Five clean sheets in a row – maybe we can do 10 of them too!

The ChaSeptember 21, 2018 at 3:07 pm ·

As that includes Salzburg away, I’d take that!

jimmybeeSeptember 21, 2018 at 3:00 pm ·

Brendan is struggling in european football.
Griff got him out of jail. He needs a long hard look before criticising the board or the players.
His tactics have been sometimes rotten.
Pre Season Dembele and Edouard looked good. So why not Edouard and Griff?.
Sinclair has to start more we don’t need Rogic and Ntcham one is enough to start.

Another perceptive diary. You hit the nail on the head, in fact, several nails on several heads.

Two realities emerge from last night, the performance was the new norm……terrible, and we won the game! The first means that a moderate team will turn us over; the second that we have hope. As you say, the goal came about because of a long direct pass from our captain and an intelligent headerby Boyata. It did not come about through a slow, methodical build up, consisting of ten passes to get us nowhere.

I hope BR is a manager that can change his thinking, otherwise we are doomed to suffer decline. With the exception of RB, the defence is fixed. By the way, I think ML has been a great servant to the club and looks to be playing through pain. We already have the players to sort the midfield but the striking dept. is an issue. Edouard cannot play as a lone striker, and, i do not think that he and Griff can form a partnership. Edouard needs a large CF to hold or knock the ball down to his feet. He is at his best when he is driving into the penalty area. Not is not Griff’s game.

Rosenborg have improved but have we?

Rebus

jimmybeeSeptember 21, 2018 at 6:47 pm ·

Rebus i always value your posts m8.
Couple of points i thought Rosenborg were terrible offered nothing in attack.
I’m also of the opinion now that Brendan hasnt learned in his time being here. He is a one trick pony. Last night cried out for change in the attacking half. Ntcham Rogic apart from one run and a shot on goal Forrest McGregor Edouard were all poor. Brendan has to look at the squad.
The defense done their job even Lustig I thought the greatest supporters in the world were a disgrace once again in their howls of abuse for s guy tryinghis best.How quickly they forget.
Brendan has to take full responsibility and sort it. Griff was the last get out instead of the first name on the team sheet.

TicTocSeptember 21, 2018 at 7:45 pm ·

Very good comment, Jimmy, as always and little to argue with.
I’m glad you, and others, have pointed out the howling at Mika Lustig; a GREAT player in the Hoops and a Hunskelper extraordinaire. To abuse that Mhan Mika is an absolute fucking disgrace. I’ve ‘had a go’ at several players and normally explain why, but I’d never slag them off whilst they’re on the pitch, as long as they were clearly trying.
FC not PLC
HH

TicTocSeptember 21, 2018 at 7:50 pm ·

Rebus, my apologies; I meant to include a ‘thumbs up’ to you for your post. Another on here who just about always makes good comments.
HH

Caption: Attention please, final boarding call. Could a Mr Gerrard Steven and party, please make their way to the departure lounge. Final boarding call for Mr Gerrard and party.

broxburnbhoySeptember 21, 2018 at 3:48 pm ·

I think the RB Salzburg game will be interesting to see if we raise our game because it is a “big game” God knows we have many “small games” where the domestic opposition are allowed to kick lumps out of our players and the officials make multiple honest mistakes, while the opposition pack their box with all their players. I noticed that outside of the PSG and Bayern games we seemed to raise our game for the “big games” against SEVCO, away at Anderlecht and against second placed Aberdeen. I wonder of there is a mentality of living for bigger games creeping in? If so Brendan needs to fix it quickly

Rebus67September 21, 2018 at 3:50 pm ·

I see we watched Red Star Belgrade during the week. I suspect that we were checking out Richmond Booakye, a Ghanian striker……..much travelled and varied performance. He would cost in the region of 5.5 million euros.

Ould be wrong, of course, and we are buying another midfielder.

Rebus

TicTocSeptember 21, 2018 at 3:57 pm ·

Something to consider, probably more for Brendan and his staff than for eTims, but hey ho.
I noticed on Ceefax the other day that some Spurs players had pointed out they were “physically and mentally exhausted”.
This so early in the season, too!!
When I watch Celtic currently (and much of last season), with a few exceptions, I could quite easily say they look “physically and mentally exhausted” and it would suit.
Is the obsession with “super-fitness” a cancer running through football? Destroying it? It fuckin’ sure looks that way.
Footballers DO NOT FUCKING NEED to be “super-fit”; very fit, yes. Also, they should be really encouraged to show their ability, captivate the SUPPORTERS.
ENTERTAIN the SUPPORTERS.
The fuckin’ ‘tactics’ lark has gone too far and the end result at this rate will be shrinking crowds, piss-poor atmosphere and ultimately DEATH. You know, like RFC 1872/3-2012. DEID.
Bang! Bang!
FC not PLC
HH

Charlie SaizSeptember 21, 2018 at 4:20 pm ·

I think I am right In saying Paurs had something like 10 players who were involved in the World Cup up to and including the Semi Final?

Charlie SaizSeptember 21, 2018 at 4:21 pm ·

Spurs’
Get fucked Jobbs

CortesSeptember 21, 2018 at 3:57 pm ·

The stewarding reaction to the crush at the 1-0 swatting aside of the Sevco was a hoot last night.

I generally arrive early, on foot, from the London Rd area, and make my way promptly to the gate (6-13 at the NW section of the stadium). Often I have to wait for my ticket and have taken shelter in a little bay formed by the exit doors adjacent to the gates in question. Last night that wasn’t necessary because I had the cards but if I’d had to wait I’d have been stuck looking for my brother in the open concourse with thousands of people moving past due to the extension of the taped “alleyways” introduced by the stewards. Said “alleyways” actually REDUCED the space available along the walkway by compressing people over towards the cemetery wall.

What a fucking joke.

Game was shite as well.

Charlie SaizSeptember 21, 2018 at 4:18 pm ·

Fair play to the ref last night booking the diver /Lustig challenge.

Charlie SaizSeptember 21, 2018 at 4:18 pm ·

Fair play to the ref last night booking the diver /Lustig challenge.

TicTocSeptember 21, 2018 at 6:31 pm ·

Agree CS, he must’ve been excellent as, like all good refs, he didn’t become a talking point but controlled the game fairly and well. Must be said he had two very fair-minded teams who, although unable to produce good football, they didn’t resort to just kicking each other, a la Scottish Premier League teams from Govan and the piss-poor halfae Edinburgh. 🙂
FC not PLC
HH

Devoy45September 21, 2018 at 5:57 pm ·

At Kilmarnock. Please,no 0-0. Let’s dynamite the parked bus.
Gordon
Lustig/Boyata/Benkovic
Gamboa/Brown/Mulumbu (used to the artificial pitch)Tierney
Johnston/Griffiths/Sinclair
I think Griff and Sinclair have to be on from the beginning.
We need to try something different…really different. I pass this on to any boffins on our site. Give Forrest and Ntcham a rest.

Charlie SaizSeptember 21, 2018 at 8:19 pm ·

I don’t think it would be wise putting Benkovic on the left side of a 3 bud he looked very right sided v St.Mirren and not that co fortable out there?
I would like to see us revert back to a 3-4-3

Charlie Saiz you know there’s a Charlie Saiz Who writes in the Scotsman fan forums. This one talks about the great Eric caldow and sandy jardine and calls Celtic fans tarriers and taigs

Suppose it’s a common moniker over there. Just giving you the heads up

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:25 am ·

Is it spelled the same way?

Iancelt67September 22, 2018 at 2:10 am ·

Charlie sais. I think. I wouldn’t worry about it the guys comments are innocuous as opposed to incendiary.
HH

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 8:34 am ·

What’s all this then Charlie Saiz….you been outed son?
Fancy a Pizza?

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 10:40 am ·

Oh look Monti went and fucked himself twice in one sentence.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 10:59 am ·

I’ve been labelled a fenian bastard all my days by those inbred,bigoted cunts and now I have supposed fellow Tim’s levelling it at me?
I can take it from them ,in fact I take great pleasure in shoving their own rancid ,bigoted views up their shitebox TO THEIR FACE IF NEEDS BE.
What I won’t accept is online fireside fenian s and plastic paddies levelling the same accusations though?
So if you think that is what I am then by all means send Ralph an Email and we can set a meet up then we can both take it further.
If not shut the fuck up and go see a doctor about the paranoia you are evidently displaying and the delusion that you are obviously suffering from.
I don’t care how hard you think you are trust me I have decades of that shite stored up and ready to be released on your face.
I wouldn’t normally take this type of action towards a fellow Celtic Fan but then levelling that shite at a fellow Celtic man who was baptised and confirmed a Catholic ,went to a Catholic Faith School is beyond what is acceptable from a fellow Celt.
Yer a cunt if you do plain and simple and not worthy of the title fellow Celt in my eyes.
Take yer accusations and suspicions and go seek help.

Meanwhile back at the fitba…

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:53 pm ·

Bit of a coincidence tho eh?

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 1:06 pm ·

You have no relevance Green hun.

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 1:58 pm ·

I mean you regularly make comments about ‘ plastic paddies ‘ & you particularly seem to dislike the Catholic church, not only that but you seemed to rejoice over Deila, a man who was emptying the stadium, you also seem to revel in the bombscare that was Ambrose….
Oops & you claim to have worn the brutish uniform on the streets of Ireland?

Oh dear.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:34 pm ·

Nup
Still no relevance Green Hun

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 6:27 pm ·

Iancelt,
Thanks for the heads up m8

Rob O'KeeffeSeptember 21, 2018 at 7:47 pm ·

Thank goodness for Super Leigh.Brendan,he will score goals for you! He doesn’t need to be petted,just treat him like a guy who’s scored over 100 goals for Celtic.
Tierney is running himself into the ground for this team.Why did you bring back Emilio?Give the young Bhoy a rest.
You’re going to have serious challenges this season Brendan,let’s see Plans B,C,D…..cos at the moment,it’s utter dross….

MontiSeptember 21, 2018 at 7:59 pm ·

Caption: Volunteers gather to search for a small fishing boat in the Sligo water.

We are in the midst of a thunderstorm here with the possibility of a tornado. The gutters cannot handle the water and are overflowing. Electricity is out.

A glass of red seems like part of the solution.

Rebus

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 1:09 am ·

Rebus, as one of your own – K’wood bretheren 🙂 – I wish you safe and well. Don’t go near anything ye canny swally; drink copious amounts of anything above 12% abv (anything less just makes ye pee) and dinnae miss an opportunity tae get rid of any irritating neighbours; take them up the nearest high-riser, get them on the balcony, say “look, over there” and then ‘wwhheeeee….splatt’. Gone, forever 🙂
You have been watching, ‘Friends, Are They Really?’ and other tactical awareness videos.
HH (Hurt, Hurt)

MontiSeptember 21, 2018 at 10:21 pm ·

God be with you Tommy Burns!

You will be loved always!

HH

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 1:39 am ·

And may Gad be with you, Mr. President, and Mr VICE-president BONZO, and also that Monti, hah, good guy Monti, mostly German but with a Greek genealogy and an ifinite alphabet for hookers…….Hmmmm, can’t be ALL bad….Hmmmm
Let him off? My arse! (unless he’s unwell)

Hate to admit it (not really :-)) but eTims sans Monti is not quite the eTims I love and cherish, at all.

HAIL, MONTI, King of the Pews! HaHaHaHave a nice day 🙂
HH

Noel SkytrotSeptember 21, 2018 at 10:24 pm ·

Great programme by BBC Alba about Tommy Burns.

Remarkable dignity shown by his family and all those who took part. Had a wee lump in my throat watching Danny McGrain struggling to talk.

A fantastic footballer, individual and nothing meant more to him that his family, his faith, the fans and the club. Who was singing the TB song while watching that?,I was.

Tommy Burns, one of our own.

San MiguelSeptember 21, 2018 at 11:04 pm ·

That Tommy Burns documentary on BBC Alba was absolutely brilliant.
A fitting tribute to a wonderful footballer but more importantly a wonderful human being.
When you have people like Danny McGrain,Sir Kenny Dalglish,David Hay to name a very few eulogising about him not only about how he was a footballer but about how he dealt with people then as King Kenny said we were lucky to have known him not that he was lucky to play for his beloved Celtic..

Spent the last 15 minutes of it with tears streaming down my face.

Twist and turn in heaven Tommy RIP .

Noel SkytrotSeptember 21, 2018 at 11:11 pm ·

I don’t think that many Celtic fans would’ve sat and not shed a few tears watching that, I did.

SM, I think it was our (eTims) Mike that put it up here, that Tommy’s programme, his 10th anniversary, was on Alba.
I haven’t seen it yet but will do soon.
Remember WGS saying “Tommy, that’s 3 in a row, for YOU”
I told BBC I wouldn’t renew my license until the biased, inane, bastards, and repeat that again, were admitting of their bigotry and bias on a multi-cultured ticket and paymasters. FUCK ‘EM.
Anyway, point is: Paul Cuddihy’s book on Tommy, IMHO, is The Best.
“A Supporter Who Got Lucky”, a “Story of Family, Faith and Football”. It’s humble, terrific and SO poignant.
See me? I don’t have ‘religion’ and despise it, but if truth be told, I’d love to have Tommy’s FAITH right now.
That FAITH in The Glasgow Celtic.
FC not PLC
Hail! Hail! Tommy Burns, and thanks Mike for reminding us..

On a very different note to anything on here, I ask the ‘gallagate charlie’ a simple question: I hear of a beer called Calton1771 (Aye (The) Calton one-seven SEVEN ONE.) Does it exist? Or have I been drinking magic mushrooms again?
Whae gi’es a Phuq?
“We all made a promise……”
HH

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:28 am ·

See if any of these Bhoys are on here, I’d really love to know. I’m thinkin’, ‘we’re nae gettin any younger’.
So, a kinda roll-call, but invisible to any lurkin’ huns or any other fuckin’ reprobates:
Backae the Goal Bhoys: Big Gordon McG, Tam Mc, Boaby L, Ian L, Paul L, Tam A, John K, Willie K, Big Jim S, John L (dec), Wee Jimmy whitsisname, Danny S, Gordon M, and countless others who threw their Lanny boatles up in the air when we scored and I’d drank them before the silly cunts could even remember huvvin any: pure fuckin’ class 🙂
PS any obvious names I missed, I triple apologise but don’t try to get me tae that confession pish, it could make me even ‘worser’ 🙂
HH
NEVER FORGET: When I was singing my heart out as a wean of about 11 going to matches, singing Sean South and The Patriot Game, I had no clue that both songs were about the same disaster; young men dying for Ireland’s cause. And it happening when I was about 5. Aye, 1957, which some may remember as 7-1 in the League Cup Final. Remarkable, memorable even, but not without shedding a tear for those brave volunteers, RIP all of you.
FC not PLC
HH

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 9:37 am ·

Nurse Ratched

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 4:13 pm ·

Aaaawwww, poor baby! That naughty Nurse Ratched not answered your squawking yet? Poor baby! Maybe someone will do us all a favour and stick a ‘dummy’ in the dummy’s mouth and tape his fuckin’ fingers together at the same time? 🙂
Poor baby!

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 6:25 pm ·

It’ll no be you tho…..

MikeSeptember 22, 2018 at 9:44 am ·

Can we talk about… Nick Powell, the Wigan playmaker, I read only good things about him over the years, it is suggested that he would fill the void (pardon the pun) left by Stuey Armstrong. An ex Manure player who is wasted at Wigan. Lets face it Wigan is a dump, a bit like Stoke, only worser.
Can we talk about Shane Long, he starred in a western with Alan Ladd, think of the positive side effects, we could all shout “Shane, Shane, come back Shane, Shane we luv you Shane.” For a secondary career he plays football, he just needs a little TLC. You see he just wants to be luved. Two good signings in January. Comments on a post card to the Lou Macari centre in Stoke, great player, pish manager, but a great person.

Nice to see that Brendan has stated that the slump will continue for a while?
Leigh,Leigh more of You please!
Tam Burns RIP,10 years gone,what a loss to everyone,what a gentleman! Twists and turns,thanks for all those memories.It was Us who were lucky to watch you…..God Bless.

DocSeptember 22, 2018 at 11:15 am ·

So Benkovic had a good game but it wasn’t difficult considering how poor Rosenborg were, the test will be when he actually has to do some defending.

Don’t know why folk are giving Lustig a hard time. I thought he was excellent, he passed like we usually see from Brown and won more in the air than Boyata and Benkovic (hope Celtic By The Numbers confirms this), he put a number of dangerous crosses into the box, its not his fault (or Tierney’s) that Edouard was easily marked out the game. He dealt with Meling who is by far their best player. After around half an hour, Meling gave up going on the overlap, where he done very little against Lustig, and he tried to play from deeper and was then more effective.

Caption: what i see at at festivals.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 11:36 am ·

Benkovic looked far more comfortable in a Central position to me with Tierney outside him to me Doc but he was solid in everything he was asked to do so no complaints here.
I thought Lustig had a decent game considering he’s been out for a bit and was lining up with a changed backline.
He got done for pace once or twice but on the whole was solid.
I don’t get he grief either but then I never have no matter who was playing as they were picked to play and wear that shirt so should be backed regardless of form in my opinion.
Leave the negativity to online or pub rants if needs be?
Édouard took himself out of the box numerous times when we were looking like putting a cross in this is part of his inexperience and naivety which is not his fault he’s still learning at this level?
Rodgers is partly to blame for this as he is obviously advocating our Striker drop off and help out?
Which is fine if they have the pace and stamina to do this for 60-90 minutes.
I’ll be honest with you and say I think Brendan’s changes to the approach this Season and towards the end of last are not doing the side any favours?
He needs to get back to deploying 2 wingers with pace and a frontman who can play off the shoulder and be between the posts when the delivery arrives.
Ie Get Sinclair and Griffiths flying again and use Johnson Hayes and Morgan as backup as and when required?
Playing 2 wingbacks and two wide men allowed us to dominate both flanks and create the space and overlaps we need when trying to break down packed defences.
If its not broken why fuckin tamper with it and try fix it?

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:20 pm ·

Vanity project?

DocSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:34 pm ·

Im not saying Benkovic wasn’t good, just that it’s hard to judge a player when he’s had very little to do against such a poor team.

The shape of the defence doesn’t matter too much, as I’ve said for ages now, it’s in the penalty box where we need changes. Thursday was a prime example, so many quality crosses but no one to get on the end of them, our lone striker (£9m?) marked out the game by two average players that only had to keep their shape get the very basics right. We offered very little for 85 mins but then a simple long ball, Boyata thinks he is Chris Sutton, and we’ve got the goal. Having a second man in the box pays dividends.

Ntcham can turn players and McGregor finds space but it falls apart there because we have nothing beyond them. We have two amazing crossers in Tierney and Lustig but so many crosses go to nothing because we have nothing in the box.

We waste so much by fannying about at the back and waiting for opponents to give us chances rather than actually trying to create them ourselves. Right now we are a bit like Homer Simpsons boxing career, we grind out results against teams that offer little but if an opponent cuts out mistakes, keeps their shape in defence and goes for it in attack then we are in trouble and its all down to our tactics, not because of Boyata, Forrest or, more recently, Lustig.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 1:21 pm ·

Totally agree and it’s a total head scratcher that the mAnager left it over 60 minutes to realise we needed pace and width and then a fursther 15 minutes to take a relatively quiet Édouard off.
Brendan is the issue at the moment not the players.
He sits there like Plato explaining the complexities of whatever to Davis and Kennedy (who gaze open eyed at his every awesomeness) whilst all around there are 60k punters who can see what the issues are!

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:23 pm ·

See what i mean? Deila untouchable, Brendan questionable?

Oh dear.
You would be better off on the bears den.

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:44 pm ·

Brilliant CS, pretty much sums up what I think.
During a game under Deila, a French journalist got it fuckin’ spot on. Unfortunately this is not verbatim but you’ll get the point: “He (Deila) looks like a cow watching a train go by; it knows something relatively important is happening but hasn’t a fuckin’ clue what it is”
HaHaHa 🙂
FC not PLC
HH

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:53 pm ·

Deila wasn’t untouchable though was he?
Every Manager has their issues and StBrendan is no different.
It would appear it’s fine for you to routinely slaughter the likes of Boyata Ambrose on a weekly basis regardless of form but question anyone else who questions our current Manager?
You are a hypocrite been saying this for years on here.
Same with your part time Christianity.
Hypocrite
An irrelevant,Green Hun,Plastic Paddy,hypocrite

For what it’s worth. I ways thought that Deila was a lucky manager not withstanding the fact that he was AN ARSE

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:53 pm ·

I’ve been kinda reading from the comment I picked at random and going upwards; it kinda fucks some comment up but I’ve been watching our dire performances over the last 18 months or so, so who cares?
Doc, that is a quality comment. It’s fairly evident to many of us but you got it right in the worst fuckin’ medium there is; the written (typed) word.
Well done.
HH

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:24 pm ·

Is that Fabian Johnson?

Devoy45September 22, 2018 at 12:10 pm ·

Just watched the Tommy Burns special on BBC Alba. I was in tears at the end, as I bet many of you were. ‘A supporter who got lucky’ but more than that, a very special human being. I’m proud he is part of our heritage and Celtic family. We are all Tommy Burns, or, aspire to be like him. Congratulations to all who made the programme.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:17 pm ·

Saving it till Sunday which I fined a good day for reflection Devoy.
Tommy would have recoiled in horror at some of the posts in here.

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:21 pm ·

Do you post on the Scotsman on a Sunday?

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:56 pm ·

Never Post in the Scotsman and besides if I did I would certainly have got the spelling of my moniker right.

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 5:52 pm ·

Hmmmmmm….no sure like..
Sniff

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 7:04 pm ·

Did a punter leave some man fat on yer nose?

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 2:46 pm ·

Just logged on, picked an eTims comment at random, and the 2nd comment I read was yours, Devoy. I’d just logged on to eTims after watching the Tommy Burns programme on Alba (BBC iPlayer). Aye, tears were running down my cheeks; my wife asked near the end “what’s that music in the background?” I said I don’t know, I’m trying to hear every word spoken by Tommy’s family.
It was Eric Clapton at his best and I didn’t even notice.
YNWA, Tommy, a finer Celt never graced our wee planet.
HH

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 2:53 pm ·

Must add, my wife was in tears too as she asked about the background music; she said “And I didn’t even know him”.
Our thanks to Mike frae Bonny, as I believe it was Mike who brought the programme to our attention.
HH

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:19 pm ·

Devoy,
Yes i admit to shedding a few tears, especially when you see the hurt in his daughters, one of whom i met & spoke to in Malones.
I told her what her dad meant to me growing up as a kid, she appreciated the sentiments.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:41 pm ·

Did you share your love for posting “wee jokes” about unarmed soldiers being shot and murdered in the Street?
Sure Tommy would appreciate your Christian “banter”?

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 6:37 pm ·

Met Tommy Burns twice, seemed to enjoy my company….amazing who one can meet when leaving the loft.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 7:03 pm ·

I met Jaques Shirac in Bosnia whilst wearing nothing more that a Green Towel and flip flops.

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 7:41 pm ·

Did ye aye?

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 8:45 pm ·

Absolutely.
Then I met Princess Ann at the Palace (left a big shite floating in the bogs for and behalf of the working class).
Did I mention my Granny was a McStay 😉

Weered, I also met some very, very dangerous people over in Antrim. They were very nice to me but I just got the feeling these were heavy duty folk. One of them was an older gent, not a pick on him, very old school in his mannerisms, but a scary individual.

Noel… Antrim Town is decidedly dodgy… I’m glad we left it… There are serious social undercurrents there

Donnchadh SaizSeptember 24, 2018 at 4:10 am ·

Been to a few parties up the Steeple Estate but less said about that the better methinks 😉

Devoy45September 22, 2018 at 12:15 pm ·

A historical question. What formation would you say we played against Inter in 1967? What would we call it now? 4-2-4?!
Simpson
Craig/Clarke/Cesar/Gemmel
Auld/Murdoch
Jinky/Wallace/Chalmers/Lennox
Or, 4-2-2-2 because Jinky and Lennox played slightly in front?
It would look like:
Gordon
Lustig/Boyata/Ajer/Tierney
Brown/Ntcham
Forrest/Edouard/Griffiths/Sinclair
Why the hell not?!!

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:18 pm ·

I think it was more or less 2 at the back for most of the game Devoy 😉

DocSeptember 22, 2018 at 12:41 pm ·

424. Leipzig play pretty much like that

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm ·

Och an’ I thought it was the original style of 2-3-5.
Maybe ah’ve missed something wi’ a’ them fuckin’ tactics but Revie’s Leeds, and Herrera’s Inter before him were tryin’ tae kill the fuckin’ game wi’ ‘tactics’ when Big Jock showed them ANOTHER way tae win; THE CELTIC WAY.
RIP Big Mhan, an’ thanks fur a’ thae beautiful memories.
Celtic through an’ through.
HH

MikeSeptember 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm ·

Going to keep an eye open tomorrow for the Killie ex Celtic right back Stephan O’Donnell. He impressed me when he played the Huns and again playing for Scotland, will he be our new right back?
I see that Nick Powell scored for Wigan yesterday another Celtic linked player, is he a replacement for Stuart Armstrong? Another linked with us is from Southampton, the Irish centre-forward Shane Long. I f we signed Shane, we could all shout out from the stands….
“Shane, come back Shane, we love you Shane”, alternatively, that Long is minging Who TF bought him. Who needs minging scouts when we can be just as rubbish without costing any money.

FredDDobbsSeptember 22, 2018 at 5:58 pm ·

hope he gets fucking skined all match

MontiSeptember 22, 2018 at 7:39 pm ·

Beep beep….i’ve started so i’ll finish…..Q. Fred, why are you not all there?

portpowerSeptember 22, 2018 at 4:22 pm ·

SMSM Front Page alert:

Never to McGinn for Celtic scores a cracker.

Charlie SaizSeptember 22, 2018 at 4:52 pm ·

Hearts drop 2 points at Home.

TicTocSeptember 22, 2018 at 5:01 pm ·

Thanks for that, CS.
Nice that the new huns are ‘irrelevant’ and the cousins will be back in their box shortly.
Don’t waste yer time with irrelevances; they can be irritating but they’re always easily dismissable. 🙂
HH

Aaah, Charlie, so there ye are!
I’ve been fuckin’ aboot the night, drinkin’, as per, and entertaining ma wee diamond; been tryin’ to refine my own version of Frankie Miller’s Drunken Nights. Started reminiscin’ aboot Sean South and, by association, to Fergal O’Hanlon…….an’ then ah found this (which’ll no’ ‘Limit Resources’ like Monti and CS’s wee TIFF (an’ that’s a’ it is)
Here ye go Pal:

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:12 am ·

Ah’m offtae kip now, but I’ll leave you with this, to compliment The Patriot Game in remembering those brave rebels who died in the effort to “free ould Ireland”. Sean South was the first rebel song I ever learned and could sing from memory, anywhere on request:

We can expect a very tough game in Ayrshire today against a stuffy and well-organised team on a treachorous playing surface and our away form so far has been, to put it mildly, piss poor.

Inspired by what the wee huns and the buddies have done against us already, Killie might try to take the game to us a bit more than usual, trying to make full use of the creativity of Burke and Stewart. Their midfield stalwart and hatchetman Dicker will be back from suspension and they are likely to go with Brophy as the sole striker with Boyd on the bench.

I’d like to see an aggressive Celtic take to the field and to be right in their faces from the off. What we need is an early goal to put them in disarray. I hope we go 3-5-2 offering plenty of width, power in midfield and two front men to run their defence ragged. With Ntcham suspended it seems highly likely that big Youssouf Mulumbu (a man who is no stranger to that awful pitch) will make his debut. I just hope nobody gets injured today on that shitey excuse of a football pitch. I have a sneaking suspicion that a couple of our key players will be rested (protected) today.

A very fitting tribute will be passionately rendered by both sets of fans for the great Tommy Burns (RIP) – A perfect gentleman and a Celtic (and Killie) legend whose left foot was like a magic wand.

(3-5-2)

Craig

Mikel Phil Dedryk

Cris Scott B Calmac Youssouf Mikey

Griff Edu

Subs: Scott B, Emilio, Jack, Tom, Ryan, Scott S, Johnny H

Prediction: Killie 0 Celts 1 (Griff)

COYBIG

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:04 am ·

A very good summation Yoker! I wondered about giving Bain a chance with Gordons dodgy knees, however on balance It would be good to continue with the same defence as before, to settle it down. Having said that to give K.T. a rest, Emilio could start, he fits in like and auld glove. Youssouf it would be good to see him begin his Celtic career. Football is a very emotional sport and the Tommy Burns tribute will be great to see and hear. Like you I hope that NO player gets injured and I am looking to see Stephen O’Donnoll the Kille R.B. to see if his good form continues, he might just be Mikal’s replacement. Enjoy the game Yoker and all the very best to you and yours. HailHail to the two time treble winners on our quest for three times treble wins.

Yoker BhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 10:43 am ·

Morning Mikey, very good shout re Bain. On second thoughts I think I’d go along with that as a precaution. No messing about, today is all about fast direct football and getting the job done. We get the win and we put the huns under more pressure as they face St Johnstone (who have been no mugs so far this season). Enjoy the game too and best wishes to you & all the family. Get intae them!!!

TB (Twists and Turns)

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:58 am ·

Morning Yoker, No professional footballer should have to play on a pitch like that, they should be tin canned. It tells you all you need to know about a so called governing body when it allows that. All over the World plastic pollution is recognised for what it is, a destructive material, plastic football pitches are the pollution of professional football.
Good luck and good health to you Yoker and GIRU the huns.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:13 am ·

You missed out the Pastic Paddies Mike 😉
Polluting the World of Celtic with their inane dribble about shite that doesn’t even concern them “cough”

“FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUR”

Noel SkytrotSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:34 am ·

Great post YBhoy I hope we play the ball quicker from back to front rather than the side to side nonsense. Three points gives us an opportunity to climb after Hertz capitulation yesterday. 2-1

Yoker BhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 12:22 pm ·

Cheers Noel, hope all’s well back in Earl St Scotstoun. Enjoy the game, hopefully we come out of this one unscathed and ready to roll for the next one. All the best mate.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:38 am ·

There’s a bright golden haze o’er the meadow,
All the sheep looking healthy and gay,
And the Tic. will win at Killie today.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I got this wonderful feelin,
That Celtic will win at Kille awayyyyy.

jimmybeeSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:48 am ·

Think today should about direct football.
Two up top in Griff and Edouard this us not a pitch for passing football.
Fast and direct and get defenders turning quickly
HH

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:02 am ·

Celtic 3-5-2

Lustig
Boyata
Benkovic

Forrest

Brown
McGregor

Tierney

Rogic

Edouard
Griffiths

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:02 am ·

Gordon in goal obviously

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:04 am ·

Alternatively 4-4-2

Gordon

Lustig
Boyata
Benkovic
Izaguirre

Forrest
Brown
McGregor
Tierney

Edouard
Griffiths

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:05 am ·

Has anyone got today’s Scotsman?

Cough

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 10:23 am ·

John McGinn what a fucking goal. Pure class

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:52 am ·

Never mind that can you explain this:

Iancelt67 September 21, 2018 at 3:21 am ·
Straight from follow follow and heart and hand this patter

And this:

Iancelt67 September 22, 2018 at 12:16 am · Reply →
Charlie Saiz you know there’s a Charlie Saiz Who writes in the Scotsman fan forums. This one talks about the great Eric caldow and sandy jardine and calls Celtic fans tarriers and taigs

Suppose it’s a common moniker over there. Just giving you the heads up

Are you really?
Looks to me like you are insinuating I am a hun and planting a seed on a Celtic Forum hoping it grows

May I suggest you go back on the Hootsman and find the link to this cretins posts and point out where you read this clowns shite and how you came to the conclusion it was me?
I know how you came to that conclusion from the previous Diary comment (above).
Here’s a newsflash for you and all the other Fireside Rebels out there NOT ALL CELTIC FANS SUPPORT TERRORISM
And here’s another MANY CELTIC FANS HAVE SERVED IN THE FORCES PAST AND PRESENT
Incidentally my name isn’t Charlie it’s a made up Moniker from over 5 year ago based on the talking Cat infomercials from the late 70’s with a twist on the Says bit due to the restrictions on another site that required a real Surname in prefer to join?
If you look on Instagram there is actually a guy called Charlie Saiz from Barcelona.
As ever looking forward to your response
HH

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:28 am ·

Iancelt,
Truly world class goal, should have been weating the Hoops tho!

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:25 am ·

I’m not buying this shaky start shite propagated by the MSM, the league is over 38 games, it isn’t won or lost in 4/5 games. Celtic WILL win the league irrespective of what the HUN press say, they only want us to fail. I look back to Rodgers coming into the club and the reception that he received. His record is.. won every domestic competition and qualified for the C.L. two from three, lets be honest there is NO guarantee to C.L. qualification,none. Talk about we should be doing this or that, but the true facts are this.. Celtic have by far the best playing squad in Scotland by miles. Of the field issues have not helped so far this season, but they will be rectified and the team will do what it has always done.. silence and surprise its critics and win competitions.

Aston Villa, who are they, who are they.. 13th from the top of the English championship, the English championship, who are they, who are they.. answer no where.

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 10:33 am ·

Exactly mike. Fuck lawell

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 10:36 am ·

Very few of our lot could score a great goal like that if any. Got to spend the cash about the same amount for kouassi

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:44 am ·

Over the years some players have scored amazing goals, strikes can go miles over the bar, but the flukes can go in and be deemed brilliant, his goal was a brilliant.. fluke. He turned his back on the club he professes to love.. fuck him. He will be coming back up the road soon enough as his manager gets sacked. “Bruce almighty” not so almighty, as his days look numbered.

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 10:48 am ·

It’s about self belief and he’s full of it. His signing would’ve injected the self belief only brownie and the new boy Benkovic is showing

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 10:49 am ·

And griff

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 10:59 am ·

Never mind that mibees you could explain the post you made about me in the previous Diary and the one above regarding the Hootman plum ?

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:03 am ·

I told you someone called Charlie Saiz or sais was a rangers fan better u know sooner than later

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:07 am ·

Maybe I should’ve told Ralph via email. Maybe I shouldn’t have bothered sorry if it’s given you grief. Never suggested it was you like to think I was looking out for a fellow Tim not creating waves.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:08 am ·

No what you did was come in with a second insinuating post this planting a seed hoping it would grow.
Then when questioned back tracked with the fact this nugget from the Hootsman actually spells his Moniker differently.
By this point however the usual suspect on here ie Green Hun has a full days trolling off it and you say fuck

There are two replies that have as per usual failed to turn up (Cheers multiple video bhoys )
Neither are complimentary lancelt you enjoy yer day all the same
HH

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:22 am ·

Not bothered if you want to ply insults mate. All I’ve done is bring to your attention that someone using a similar name to yours is talking up Rangers. Take from that what you will maybe it’s a wind up. Maybe those comments made from me before were from playing devils advocate. I think I’ve been called a gun on here numerous times just by having an opinion that’s not to the liking of the majority. Bloggers are always under scrutiny. And comments can be taken as ambiguous. Talks cheap mate

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:10 am ·

well it was probably in context.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:23 am ·

In the context of one mans freedom fighter is another mans terrorist?
Or one mans defender is another mans aggressor context?
No what you did is come to a conclusion based on yer own bias belief.
Not all Celtic fans support Murder as a means to getting a United Ireland
Not all Celtic fans are anti Forces in fact I know 5 personally who have served.
Many ,many Celtic fans have done so past and present.
See that “Club for all” mantra we all hold so dearly well some of us actually do accept it regardless of our own view point.
Don’t ever insinuate that I am a hun.
I have had decades of these cunts labelling me as a fenian bastard.
You think I’m going to let some Internet no mark pas judgement on me without ascertaining the facts then you like the other clowns who Level that same shite are sadly mistaken.
A bigger insult you could not level at a lifelong Celt with Catholic upbringing on the West Coast of Scotland.
Think on.

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:29 am ·

Hahahahaha

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:36 am ·

Read back I never asserted any conclusions to where your loyalty is. Merely brought to your attention annother charliesaiz(s) is batting for the other side. Maybe I chose Iancelt to eliminate any doubt where my leanings are
Fyi. Saiz is an Arabic surname. Someone using your name maybe screaming allah Akbar on social media. I

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:36 am ·

Morning Luigi

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:46 am ·

It’s not an insult it’s an observation.
Sleikit is as sleikit does.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:48 am ·

I’m fully aware of the fact Saiz is a surname it’s actually the reason for altering the Moniker due to restrictions on another site that requires a valid email address.
There’s a guy on Instagram called Charlie Saiz from Spain.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:50 am ·

My name isn’t even Charlie.
I got that from the Talking Cat infomercials from the 1970’s
Anyways back to the Football….

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:59 am ·

Charlie you’ll get a lot of flak talking up the British army on a tic forum , you’re a brave man to do so. All this inclusion talk about Celtic accepting everyone into their fold is absolute bullshit. Celtic is about anti establishment it always has been.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:20 pm ·

I never talk the Army up on this Forum all I do is put the record straight when the usual numpties start piping up about murder and brutality.
I have categorically stated on numerous occasions that murder is murder no matter who is the perpetrator or whatever the cause be that Establishment or otherwise.
In fact the last comment I made regarding the Army was in regards to the State Sanctioned murder of innocent victims at the Ballymurphy Estate.
I agree on your last point though an all inclussive Celtic is bullshit for some within our own rank and file 😉

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 12:37 pm ·

Well you can factor in Bloody Sunday where innocent civilians were gunned down and the collusion between the ruling forces and the UDA. The late decision to let Catholics vote in their own country , there’s enough to be going on with. Brits should never be involved in Ireland. It should be free. Fuck the subjugators , fuck Enoch Powell and Ian paisley.

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 11:01 am ·

And so does Arzani for that matter, starting to think Rodgers has his non negotiable favourites, hopefully he will be forced to make a decision(s) and start dropping non performers going through the motions of picking up their wages. Good players leave everything on the field week in week out. Too many inconsistent performers at the moment

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:06 am ·

Well we will never know that will we, because he turned his back on our club, the club he supposedly supported all his days. Bruce promised to build a team around him, but no team only consists of one player. It was said that as soon as A.V. spoke to putrid Petrie, he McGinn said that, that is where he wanted to go to, so that is why I said fuck him. We have all heard about players wanting to play for Celtic, but this had nothing to do with Lawwell, it always comes down to the player and what HE wants and he wanted to go to A.V. He has not ever stated that he wanted to play for Celtic, supporters put 2 and 2together and they usually come to 5. So his loss our gain, we only want players who want to play for US.

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:33 am ·

McGinn never turned his back on Celtic, he had already been down to Villa and everything was pretty much agreed, put simply the player had made his mind up.
Peter Lawwell only matched Villa AFTER the player had given his word to Steve Bruce, Celtic fucked about & Villa didn’t, it’s as simple as that.
Are you telling me if Celtic had moved for the player as soon as the window opened he would have went to Villa?

PISH

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:37 am ·

Oh aye he did, do you ken how I know? because he plays for Aston Villa
so you are the one talking PISH.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:43 am ·

You and I we both know that all the power is with the player, HE decides where he plays, not Lawwell not Bruce, the player, so I.m not buying this Lawwell pish. Ifs and buts and maybes the player decides anything else is irrelevant. He is quoted as saying this… “As soon as A.V. made contact, I knew that is where I wanted to go” and there it is.. the player, the so called great Celtic man decided where he was going. Everything else is pure unadulterated pish.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:53 am ·

I agree with Monti on this Mike.
As you know we both had a debate at the time and I warned that if Celtic Continued to low ball Hibs he would be sold to another Club.
That was the issue not McGinn being a Celtic man or not.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:00 pm ·

You are entitled to your view as am I and I 100% believe that I am right, in that players decide there future, not anyone else, the player and he made his decision to go to A,V. and that is my last word on it.

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 12:30 pm ·

I agree Mike player said he wanted to go to Villa as soon as they came in. Let’s not kid ourselves here. He went for money Big money he could not get at Celtic. Fair enough and let’s not believe it was about transfer fees

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 1:28 pm ·

I think the players agent has a big hand in the decision myself but I agree ultimate they make the final call.
Shoulda matched Hibs evaluations and got on with it.

UraliusSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:06 pm ·

The Championship is not the same as Celtic he gets first team football where he is and he will eventually wear the hoops, give it 3 years or so.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:44 pm ·

Players decide where they play, just like Dembelle decided to play for Lyon. They decide, not agents, not others, they do…

The ChaSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:13 am ·

Sunday morning paranoia coming down…

Stephen (sic) Clarke has been pure ragin’ at official decisions going against Killie so is today the day to “even” things out and them being the beneficent of some “honest” mistakes?

Us? Not yet, its only be 130 years so a bit of patience

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:28 am ·

It started last week, but dinny worry because the referee is a keen green, Thomson is it? he will come out with his green Celtic top and his shamrock in his lapel, singing Sean south. This paranoia is unfounded, they really do all love the Celtic and its support. The Polis will come out singing “Athenry” throwing flower’s into the Celtic support, apologising for all there past mistakes. Killie will be deducted 3 points before the game as Clarke is a moaning Tim, his critique will be held against him and he will be arrested for being unkind. Paranoid you say, after all they were only honest mistakes..

Yoker BhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 11:37 am ·

Brendan’s gone with quite a bold line-up by the looks of it – hope the gamble pays off.

Makes sense Noel go back to the formation that the success of his first Season was built on.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 1:23 pm ·

I think with Brown coming deep it’s more or less a 3-4-3 with both Wingbacks pushed up.
Fucking bounce on that pitch is brutal made even worse by the decision not to water it.
Both Hendry and Tierney caught out with it.
Would be nice to put 3 or 4 by these and send a wee message out that no matter what shite you try pull with yer wank pitches we are up to adapting to it and battering you.

Noel SkytrotSeptember 23, 2018 at 11:40 am ·

Mulumbu, Christie and Sinclair start today.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:11 pm ·

Is Gamboa injured?

Yoker BhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 12:15 pm ·

Don’t think so. We’d have heard something if that was the case. Looks like Ajer still hasn’t shaken off his virus.

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:15 pm ·

Not according to the Scotsman 🙂

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:25 pm ·

Did you enjoy yer “Tee” down at the Clubhouse yesterday Monti?
Did Colin Monti get a hole in wan in the snug..”cough”

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:17 pm ·

COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN!

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:25 pm ·

COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN.
HH

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:28 pm ·

That’s truly fuckin remarkable!
I just log on, make the mandatory Tim comment and lo and behold, the Blessed Monti has had the same thought and beat me to it! Remarkable, but that’s what it is to be Celtic (minded)
HH

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, sometimes you just have to win dirty, brutal fitba. of the Kilmarnock variety. Spirited play by the Tic. Lustig, Boyata, Broony all playing well, the team showing spirit and fight on a pitch that gives plastic a bad name.
COYBIG. see it out….

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 1:25 pm ·

Big Dedryck giving Clubfoot a torrid time in their box shoulda had a peon and perhaps a couple of foals

I know there’s 38 games over a season and that’s what matters, but this is drivel.

Noel SkytrotSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:24 pm ·

BR and the players need to start answering questions, disgusting.

Yoker BhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 2:26 pm ·

Disastrous second half. Allowed them to get right back into the game. Simply not good enough. Sort it out Brendan.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:31 pm ·

We had 58% possession and didn’t have a clue what to do with 98% of it.

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:38 pm ·

I’m not too terribly bothered by today’s result; I’m more concerned about what Brendan may think has been ‘proven’ today.
HH
FC not PLC (and I saw some “FC” today; pity the result didn’t happen for us)

Noel SkytrotSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:39 pm ·

Seeing lots and lots of comments on social media by fans saying BR is done here, fffs, calm down.

london CelticSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:43 pm ·

What is going on. We have yet to play Hibs. They were brillant yesterday.

Devoy45September 23, 2018 at 2:43 pm ·

The rot began last season…but just when I thought we at least had the defence sorted. Again, our problem is not being able to convert possession into goals. This is getting serious bhoys. Brendan? Every team in the league has us figured out. Is there a rule against us putting teams away…against us scoring more than one goal or none? Jings, crivvens,help ma boab!

Iancelt67September 23, 2018 at 2:46 pm ·

Quite honestly the worst game of football I’ve ever seen stooped to the level of the opponent Deilaesque management. Lillie fought manfully and kept going only Tierney with any belief Christie and Morgan were ok apart from that. Kick and run amateur league stuff, maybe it’s the pitch I think it is because football was brought to disrepute today. Like a game from the seventies with the mud missing, actually that’s a disrespectful appraisal of the seventies there were some excellent Scottish players around then. This isn’t football it’s more like a cross between rugby league and something else. No guile no fucking Rogic or Forrest players who can unlock defences. I think Brendan got his answers here the fringe players are below the standard of Kilmarnock.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:56 pm ·

I think Steve Clarke has the measure of Brendan and knows how to minimise our threat.

BgbhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 2:51 pm ·

The manager is getting paid 2.5 million a season. 9 wins from 19 games since January. Not good enough. The board have clearly pissed him off and he’s demoralised. Could be seeing Lennon return sooner rather than later. And right now I’m starting to think that won’t be a bad thing

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:16 pm ·

Good comment, BgBhoy.
Questions are starting to be asked, and us Tims know how to question and what the answers SHOULD be.
Rhetorical is easy for Tims, just as easy as bullshit is easy to detect. Hail! Hail! Pal.
HH
FC not PLC

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:14 pm ·

Full agreement with this^
Going off what I have seen since his arrivaI think Lenny is more tactically astute than Brendan in Europe.
Perhaps second time round he would get the FULL BACKING of the Board.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:09 pm ·

The manager is paid £2.5 million, so what, and whatever happened to faithful through and through eh? team gets beat and out comes the sheep, bah, this is wrong, bah, Lenny is this, bah, get rid of the man who has delivered two trebles, because the team got beat..

BTW what about the players, do they get paid only the living wage? or do they earn peanuts?

BgbhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 5:36 pm ·

Mike he’s only won 9 from 19 since January. It is pretty evident that this is now not working. He has been shafted by the board I’m the summer and he has quite clearly been sickened by it. There has been a lot better Celtic teams than last season that didn’t even win a trophy. It has all went stale. These players have won everything the last 2 years, do you think they are as hungry as that lot in Govan to win it this year? I don’t know if they are. He wanted 3 or 4 quality players to freshen it up. He barely got 1. The writing is on the wall if you ask me. I don’t blame the manager at all. But it’s the 2008/2009 season all over again. Except worse.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 6:39 pm ·

He was shafted by the board, but if it upset him that much, then perhaps he should have resigned and let the flack hit its rightful target. The accounts show a big rise in players wages, do you not think that they deserve to be criticised? You pointed out his excessive wages, but not the players, he is paid big money to fix the problem. I fully accept that there is a problem, perhaps the players are not as hungry, but they are paid to win games, they accept the plaudits, they deserve to be criticised for failure. Of course the Huns and there manager are hungry, but the last time we played them we played them of the park. I have found that people need to be supported when things go against them, that is when they need our support the most, not when we are winning, winning, winning. Is our six time trophy manager a gonner, I don’t know, but if he is as unhappy as you think, then he should go and tell his fellow supporters the reason why…..

highseastimSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:55 pm ·

I’m surprised the ” it was Hendry’s fault” brigade haven’t been on yet!! While not noticing the old timer Burke ran Tierney ragged. Once again pithless up front, as has been the case all season. The 10 in a row song is beginning to look like it’s on a shoogly peg.

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:02 pm ·

I just kinda thought, in a relaxed fashion, I’d like to meet up wi’ Charlie S and Monti, all 3 Tims together.
It would (probably) end up bein’ a fuckin’ riot (of fun) as the face-to-face craic proved the inefficiency of the written (typed) word.
If it didny end up bein’ a real good craic we’d huv a right good battle. I’m ‘laissez-fair’ about it; I don’t give a fuck if it ends…………all ‘tits up’. But ah STILL like the idea.
Fitba’? We’ll still win the League, but not comfortably.
We’re still in FOUR competitions, all of which are possible to win; but we wont win things whilst in-fighting is going on.
1st move? Get Lawwell tae fuck. He’s not the orchestrator of our victories, he’s the biggest hurdle we have to jump.
GET LAWWELL TAE FUCK, an’ he can fuckin’ take his hotel an’ museum along wi’ him. Get HIM tae fuck.
FC not PLC
HH

highseastimSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:06 pm ·

But hey, we just banked £17 million!!

UnaSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:27 pm ·

Brendan has lost the changing room over bringing boyata back into squad after his antics the fear and respect factor is now non existent. Sometimes a change is as good as a breath of feesh air BR time to move on thanks for two years of bliss no thanks for this years pish

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:40 pm ·

Una, you often make sense.
I think, however, you’re a wee bit OTT about Brendan whilst I clearly recognise what you’re saying.
2 years of “bliss” is an exaggeration; the invincible year was bliss, but only that year was bliss.
The root cause, the consistent common denominator is Lawwell; an ABSOLUTE cunt. Years ago I was slating him for his refusal to pay Celtic PLC employees the living wage; since then his “world-class” business acumen has been shown up as HE, singularly fucked up and cost us in the CL qualifiers. If I was a violent mhan, “god” forbid, I’d drive to his home in the South-East of Glasgow and batter his fucking brains in.
Fortunately (for some) my bark is a wee bit worse than my bite…………..but just a wee bit.
FC not PLC
HH

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 8:22 pm ·

TicToc,
🙂

UnaSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:26 pm ·

Whats ur problem dog balls

UraliusSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:41 pm ·

Una I replied, but it’s missing.

UnaSeptember 23, 2018 at 7:25 pm ·

Ok

UraliusSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:43 pm ·

I suspect it’s multiple things.
1. Moussa forced his way out, Told the whole squad Brendan and Peter lied to him. Brendan took Moussa into a meeting with the influential players and grilled him. Moussa admitted he was being a wee fucktard. This probably should’ve been done behind closed doors with only a senior coach and Broony in the room.
2. Boyata did his thing, but was treated differently. WTF?
3. Why publicly slag off Griff? Sure he seems like he is always pissed off, he HATES it when he is touched by members of the team and the manager, but I bet you he trains hard. So that was probably seen as bullshit.
4. Every one of those players have played under different managers and have seen the downward spiral I am sure to some if them this looks like one.
5. Brendan constantly babbles on about improving, the players aren’t good enough, the squad isn’t good enough, they are probably beginning to believe it. Except Griff and probably Broony who don’t give a fuck about what he thinks a 27 – 32 year old international needs to do to improve.
6. Teams do everything in their power to limit our space in the final third and instead of counteracting it we don’t change how we play this could easily be counteracted but overloading the flanks and constantly switching play to the other open flank, it NEVER HAPPENS. OUR PLAYERS NEVER make it to the byline, instead we compress them more by running inside.
7. Alternatively it could just be team is struggling without their complete striker and main outlet on the counter.

highseastimSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:35 pm ·

Joint worst goal difference in the top six days it all for me!!

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 4:37 pm ·

I’ll take a bet with you that we win the league and end up with the leagues best goal difference!

UnaSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:21 pm ·

I’ll take a 20 on that

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:27 pm ·

Una,
I heard you like a pound……

UnaSeptember 24, 2018 at 7:45 am ·

As long as it not from you

FredDDobbsSeptember 23, 2018 at 3:41 pm ·

Rogers has lost the plot, same as with the scousers. Get Lenny back in

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:27 pm ·

Dobbs,
Shut the fuck up Donny

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 3:58 pm ·

Oh dear the fickle shallow nature of the taste of defeat and working through a hard time. Very early days this season. The league is a marathon not a sprint and we have no hun like god given right to win. Get a grip. Calling for Rogers to go is just plain stupid

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:17 pm ·

I don’t want to see anyone sacked B.B. but if he has one eye on the Exit due to this Summers shenanigans then mibees he will make that decision himself?
I agree though they don’t hand medals out in September.

FredDDobbsSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:36 pm ·

to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me
to you to me to you to me to you to me

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:21 pm ·

Brendan has had it easy in Scotland since his arrival now he has to show everyone what he’s actually made of and get our team digging out results regardless of form.
No making excuses but that pitch was a joke today would not have been out of place in a Leisure centre never mind a top flight fitba match.
We are not a lumpball fitba team we like to play football on the deck and on grass wherever possible.
They have an advantage before a ball is even kicked.
We were still shite all the same.

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:23 pm ·

Might be an idea to take the bhoys down to Largs and get some old school training done on a shite surface before these types of games?
All well and good practicing on a fucking billiard table all week when you have to play on a School playground at the weekend?

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:24 pm ·

God Bless Neil Lennon 😉

Charlie SaizSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:34 pm ·

Off to Cardiff for the night see he later Bhoys n Ghirls
HH

TicTocSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:04 pm ·

HaHaHa, Charlie S, what in fuck have ye done tae be sent tae Cardiff? FFS, bein’ sent tae Coventry is bad enough!
HaHaHa, have a good time an let us a’ know when you’re being released; I’ll send that fuckin’ irritatin’ heidbanger Monti tae pick ye up. HaHaHa.
FC not PLC
HH

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 4:44 pm ·

We have more than enough talent on the field to win games like today and over time class always tells. Brendan is no dummy either. Kind of early to be giving up hope. Nobody wins cups and leagues in September. Let’s see where we are at the end of December. Always real downer to lose against poor opposition and it will happen time to time. The bigger game is win the league and do well in the Europa League. Cups are a bonus and we seem to be able to raise out game for those plus Sevco and Aberdeen. Need to raise the game against the rest to it seems as they have all decided to park the bus and hack.

MikeSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:53 pm ·

Did you see Brendans face as he left the pitch, he was seething, a wee bit premature to call for the head of a manager who has delivered two trebles and won every competition that he has entered in Scotland. What about players wages, they went up by a large percentage this year, THEY are the ones on the park, not Rodgers. We beat the Huns 1-0 going on five, we lost our centre-half in the warm up and played a team of thugs on a pitch that that made plastic look good. Faithful through and through, but only if we win every game…

UraliusSeptember 23, 2018 at 6:13 pm ·

I’ve said it before and will Daffy out again the fans hold the board accountable. Not the players, not the manager, but the board.

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 8:37 pm ·

So we change the board tomorrow and how will the players play differently ?

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:12 pm ·

It’s worth a try….

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:51 pm ·

There’s something pulling me away from criticising Brendan Rodgers, he has given us so much, same with the players, a lot of these guys have given every drop for us, for Celtic, i find it hard to criticise them.

What we are seeing now is the beginning of the end for some players, i can’t believe how little we get from Scott Sinclair, no runs, no direct intent, his touch poor & passing slack.
In my opinion Celtic are struggling because of what & who we have lost & not replaced.
Creatively, Armstrong & Roberts were a joy at times, Dembele when fit was unplayable.

The players need help in certain positions, the board failed the manager in the summer & this is what we are seeing now.

It isn’t good enough!

The financial position the club is in should have been mirrored by the quality of signings in the summer…..it didn’t happen.

UnaSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:54 pm ·

I see wright set his team up for a doing today against his boyhood heroes

Rob O'KeeffeSeptember 23, 2018 at 6:21 pm ·

Good point Una,I wonder how hard St.Johnstone will make it for us on Wed night?….

Cartvale88September 23, 2018 at 5:36 pm ·

Something is seriously wrong, you could not see a win today. There is no leader on the park, Brown posted missing. Only players that tried Tierney, Griffiths, Christie, Mulumbs, the others especially Sinclair went through the motions, literally.
You can blame the plastic pitch, the crap refereeing, the Killie pies but Brendan has to take a look at what he is trying to achieve.
The end of last season poor, this season a disaster, the same stupid mistakes repeated week after week.

Rob O'KeeffeSeptember 23, 2018 at 6:31 pm ·

Cartvale,there are many things wrong.If I told you the half of it,you wouldn’t believe it…..multiple contacts…..

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 8:20 pm ·

Cartvale i agree, but according to Jimmybee if we all sing YNWA then we will beat everybody.

Rob O'KeeffeSeptember 23, 2018 at 6:29 pm ·

Don’t worry,the golf is on tonight.Wonder if Tiger will hang on for the win? Ryder Cup next weekend,happy days…WorldClass sport……Feel sorry for the fans who’ve forked out for STs and Europa League packages…..When you look at Celtics’ wage bill,some of these players should be utterly ashamed.
Brendan? Start picking on the dross and leave guys like Super Leigh alone …….

jimmybeeSeptember 23, 2018 at 8:06 pm ·

Welcome to our world grandson 🙂
You’ve had it far too good now for far too long now its time for you to support Celtic. This is what makes us not break us. The words i said to my grandson as we watched another defeat.His wee sad face for he hadn’t seen many.
I saw them regular more defeats than wins wee man but you know what we get stronger its us v them always will be.
So now we trust the manager now we trust the players no matter my opinion or yours on what’s wrong. For we have these words that inspire us. When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and dont be afraid of the dark.
So to the bhoys who boo when things get tough maybe you just arent cut out to be one of us.
HH Brendan Broony and the bhoys tomorrow is another day. COYBIG.

BroxburnBhoySeptember 23, 2018 at 8:44 pm ·

Exactly – the opposite of fickle and shallow – that is celtic supporters faithful through and through ! Tough times define a support and it’s resilence. Yes we can be critical and hopefully our manager and team learn and at same time give them some time to get it right. It’s early doors. After two domestic trebles in a row and one season undefeated I think we owe some time to the manger and players.

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:17 pm ·

Fuck time, losing to Hearts, drawing with St.Mirren & losing to Kilmarnock is fucking woeful, it’s a fucking hairdryer they need not a cuddle.
Can Brendan deliver a hairdryer? If so, anytime soon Brendan.
There will never be a time where i lose and take it well.

” Show me a good loser & i’ll show you a loser “!

Fuck knows who said that but i like it & agree with it.

FredDDobbs@hotmail.comSeptember 24, 2018 at 7:30 am ·

Vince lombardi

If you can accept losing, you cant win.

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 8:12 pm ·

Something doesn’t sit right with me when watching Celtic, why is it in most games after 25-30 mins, the opposition keeper has done next to nothing?

Some of our players need to start delivering, Scott Sinclair? This guy was outstanding in his first season but is a shadow of himself now, why?
Is his heart not in it?
If he doesn’t want to be here then fuck off, same with anybody else who can’t be fucked, you fuck off too!
I hear all this fucking pish about Sinclair being low in confidence? Are they taking the piss, we are talking about a guy who has it all in life, yet can’t run past diddy scottish defenders?
Confidencemy fucking arse, attitude & application more like.
Get your fucking fingers out!

MontiSeptember 23, 2018 at 9:18 pm ·

On Wednesday night we better see a Celtic side that is in the fucking mood, it’s that simple!

TicTocSeptember 24, 2018 at 12:08 am ·

Ahm a wee bit bladdered. (that means ah’m fuckin’ wrecked)
Nothing new. And of no concern/interest to the reader.
We lost a game today and it hurts like fuck, but it’s not life-threatening. In comparison, I was ‘on a promise’ earlier tonight. The wee diamond bastard told me if ah went oot and bought another case ae El D, she’d decapitate me from the groin up. Ma wife has semi-distant ties to the Northern Italian Mafia; her family understand how to pick up the phone and re-arrange ones face or future. (that Chanel stuff is sometimes worth its fuckin’ weight in hollow points)
Anyway, it was hard to take today, but we’ll still win the League and probably 2 cups (of 3).
When ma wee diamond bastard cools down and we’re back together like cheese on toast, ah’ll drop it on her that ah’m no’ too keen on Lawwell, Kennedy, Davies et al…..
Blackfriars Bridge anyone? Ah fuckin’ reduced them fuckin’ great concrete piles wi’ a fuckin’ jack-hammer an’ then advised the architect on how to make that bridge an enduring facet of London. So there!!
I can feel either sleep or a severe fuckin’ doing coming on as my wee diamond bastard is stirring right above ma heid…..’ELP!

Iancelt67September 24, 2018 at 5:57 am ·

Can’t believe people still drink el dorado and lanliq. That stuff is for putting into lawnmowers

Donnchadh SaizSeptember 24, 2018 at 9:35 am ·

Wreck the hoose juice.

Rebus67September 24, 2018 at 12:52 am ·

What has gone wrong with Celtic? There has been a steady decline since BR’s first season……in fact, there had to be given we were invincible. You saw it last season as more and more games were ground out victories with uninspiring football. However, they were victories.

This season we lose a couple of players, notably Roberts and Dembele, with a hiatus for Boyata. Now what the first two brought to the team was individuality. Yes, they were part of a system but they added something extra to it. They had flair that, at times, defied the system and caught the opposition by surprise. Now we have players that are either subsumed by BR’s system, or rely too much on it. The flair has almost completely gone. We have tired/frightened/lazy players….fill in the blanks….who pass the ball sideways, backwards, out to the wings which are defended by three of the opposition. When our wingers get into the last third, they cut across the defence, rather than going to the bye line for a cutback. This is the system…..if you do not play it, you do not play.

Roberts and DEmbele played to the system but they had that little bit of extra quality that allowed them to do something a bit different now and again. Their quality kept them in the team.

Now what you see is a flair player like Johnston coming in and, initially freshening up the team, but then being required to conform to the system so instead of taking on players, he either passes the ball back, or cuts inside across the defence, just as Forest now does.

How do you fix this? Who knows? It is a deep rooted problem now. Somehow the players have to be freed up from the system, either by changing it, or adding something to it. Players must be allowed to play to their strengths. This is not happening at the moment. If this does not happen then it will be a long hard season. Incoming transfers in January will not be enough to fix it.

Rebus

MikeSeptember 24, 2018 at 6:46 am ·

I woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach, with the realisation that my club was fractured, how can it go so wrong? is there time to fix the problem? Do good players become bad so quickly?
The two goals yesterday, a wide open space appearing in front of goal and no-one on the post protecting Gordon’s side, basic mistakes. Players making side to side passes, allowing opposition teams time to reset there defences. Can these elementary mistakes be repaired? yes, they can. What happened to our energy, where did the high press go to? Opposition teams know how we play and brought in big players who seem to bully us all over the park. Its well documented that Lawwell never brought in the players we needed to freshen up the team and we have seen players brought in to the club who are sub-standard. Brendan has expressed his dissatisfaction at players not being brought in, he has clearly hinted at this, if he is so disheartened then he should resign and tell his fellow supporters why, they do not deserve their manager to be unhappy and dissatisfied. We have lost some good players, players like Armstrong who could open opposition teams up, Can Brendan fix it? Wednesday will tell us that….

henkesdreadlocksSeptember 24, 2018 at 7:10 am ·

I don’t think he can’t fix it Mike. I have a feeling he’ll be off sooner rather than later. It wouldn’t surprise me that he’s been told Ntcham will be sold in January and he feels enough is enough. Going by his body language and his interviews, I think he’s done.

Henke… I’m coming to that way of thinking.
He looks wretched. The board are the root cause of this

MikeSeptember 24, 2018 at 7:25 am ·

I thought about Bgbhoys conversation last night and I realised that things were badly wrong, you try to gloss over the truth when you have such an emotional attachment to your club. I thought about the £60 mill. investment in players and the extras that seem to be constant add-ons to this generation of professional football. Then I realised what I was watching on the park, sadly Henke I think that you are right. That being the case then Brendan the manager and the supporter will be off. If he walks away then he loses his salary and entitlements, but he retains his pride and dignity and he will be remembered kindly especially if he tells the support the real reason for his departure. I will always remember him with fondness and what he brought to the club when he decides to leave. I could not express my disgust with the board without a swearing bitterness rant, so….

MontiSeptember 24, 2018 at 8:33 am ·

How this board can fail to back this manager is criminal, it is fucking disgusting and it is totally unacceptable, the manager has delivered EVERY domestic trophy he has entered since walking through the door, add to that TWO champions league group stages.
Put simply Brendan can’t do any more than that, so the attention & focus turns on the board, what did they do to supplement the squad, what did they do to lift the quality of the squad?
What message did the board deliver to Brendan & the supporters?
The answer is they did fuck all!

The board knew it was a world cup year with several Celtic players in attendance, so what did they do in terms of bringing players to the club?

All the board has done is succeed in disheartening the support, the manager & probably the dressing room, this manager & squad have delivered big time, all the board had to do was add three or four quality additions & they FAILED to do it….as far as i am concerned Lawwell is fucked, get him out of Celtic!

jimmybeeSeptember 24, 2018 at 8:48 am ·

I don’t think Brendan is without fault.
So yes the board hasnt done enough to back him but the team selections 5 to 6 changes made doesnt help.
In Europe Brendan has beeen found wanting. Heavy defeats poor performance is all about his style of play. It was Kilmarnock again when tactics needed changed not half a team its fuckin ludicrous. The team still has the majority of the invincibles yes 2 or 3 should have been added it wasn’t. Brendan should have enough in the squad to deal with St Mitten and Kilmarnock.
The blame lies with him like it did with Ronnie.
So stop blaming everyone start supporting the players and back the manager. It’s only September we are in all competitions lets kick on Wednesday night.HH